’Dogs bullish on line

November 29, 2012

MARTINSBURG - Nothing jolts the juices of Dildeep Dhatt like a quarterback sack.

It's his Red Bull.

"It's like an intoxicant for me," the Martinsburg senior defensive end said.

Article Photos

Martinsburg defensive linemen Dean DeSana, back, and Eric Davis surround George Washington quarterback Trevor Bell, who falls on the football, during the Bulldogs’ 63-14 Class AAA?semifinal win Friday at Cobourn Field in Martinsburg. The defensive line will take on No. 1 Cabell Midland’s run-dominated offense at noon Saturday in the Class AAA?state championship game at Wheeling Island Stadium. (Journal photo by Ron Agnir)

He might not get much of an opportunity to relish pulling down Cabell Midland quarterback Coy Pettit in pass formation when the two-time defending state champion Bulldogs take on the Knights in Saturday's Class AAA championship game at Wheeling Island Stadium. He might have to be content with ending his career with his team-best 10 sacks.

This game figures to be more bull: Cabell Midland's offensive line trying to impose its will on Martinsburg's defensive line by running the football at the Bulldogs.

Pettitt attempted just five passes in a come-from-behind, semifinal win over Morgantown a week ago. The Knights rushed for 469 yards, however.

"They're run-first," Dhatt said. "Whenever they try to pass, I'll do my best to take advantage."

Dhatt and his defensive line mates will be on the spot against Cabell Midland, a north-south, wing-T-driven squad that rides the push of its veteran offensive line.

They've paved the way for running backs David Gaydosz and Lowell Farley to rush for a combined 3,780 yards and score 49 touchdowns.

"They're big and physical," Martinsburg nose guard Dean DeSana said.

Somewhat undersized at 5 foot-10, 225 pounds for his position, Martinsburg coach David Walker said DeSana "for what we defensively, he's perfect."

In Walker's eyes, DeSana is a linebacker in a nose guard's position and his quickness keys him.

They're all quick, the men on the first line of defense for Martinsburg. They have been there all season in vital roles for the Bulldogs.

Usually on a football team the front-line guys occupy blockers, enabling the linebackers to break free and make the stops. Three of the top six tacklers for Martinsburg are on the front line.

"I know the coaches try to see us as eating up the blocks," defensive end Eugene German said. "We like to make plays, too.

"We don't give up on plays. We keep running, even if it's 15 yards downfield, we keep chasing. We never stop working."

DeSana - who, remember, is is a nose guard - is second on the Bulldogs with 84 tackles. Dhatt is right behind at 80 and German is sixth with 59 tackles.

"If they come to me, I gotta tackle them," DeSana said, "just make sure they don't get past me."

He said the interior unit's success is predicated on shedding blockers and finding the player with the football.

"I just have to eat up blocks and not get driven into the backfield," DeSana said. "It's just getting off the blocks and finding the runner."

Their numbers speak to them being right in the action.

"They play with a lot of intensity," Walker said. "They got a nose for the ball.

Wherever it is.

Beside his sack total, Dhatt has managed 15 tackles for loss. DeSana has eight and German six, which means they are the ones breaking through the lines. DeSana has 4.5 sacks and German 3.5.

"We're physical, and we like to get to the ball," Dhatt said. "If we get a push, the running back has to reset his feet, and that's when we get our tackles."

Cabell Midland has a pair of offensive linemen weighing 280 pounds.

Martinsburg's more of the sleek variety with Dhatt at 6-1, 225 pounds and German 6-5, 260.

"(Cabell Midland's) real good up front," Walker said. "They get off the ball. Our guys are going to have to play a lot bigger than what they are."

German and his partners are up for the challenge.

"If we disrupt everything up front, we disrupt the whole play," German said. "We have to be more physical than ever before and be more relentless on the defensive line."

In essence, for the Bulldogs to impose their will and make Cabell Midland uncomfortable in its game plan.

"It's going to be a battle, a big battle," Dhatt said. "What we want to do is force them to third-and-long, which makes them more predictable to pass."

And giving Dhatt a chance to sack a quarterback, rather than dealing with the run.